Not sure of your next steps?
Front Line gives 16–30-year-olds the opportunity to discover more about careers in theatre and develop key transferable skills through paid placements with our Front of House team.
Participants will watch one of our productions, shadow various members of staff and take on important roles welcoming visitors to our theatre. The project culminates with a CV and interview skills workshop to help you take the next steps in your career.
Front Line is a paid work experience opportunity for people who are keen to explore jobs in hospitality and customer service. By taking part in Front Line, you will gain up to 26 hours of paid on-the-job experience in the following areas:
- Join our friendly team of ushers, welcoming customers to the theatre and ensuring they are looked after during their visit
- Learn from our team of baristas in our cafe: serving up coffee, a range of other drinks and a selection of pastries and snacks
- Find out how customers book their tickets to shows and learn what skills are required in a successful Box Office team
- Partner with a Stage Door Manager and immerse yourself in the theatre’s busy back of house
- Connect with the Education & Community team, supporting one of their events.
The programme culminates in a CV workshop exploring the skills you have developed and how to apply them to your next steps.
All sessions are paid at London Living Wage (£14.80 per hour).
We are currently recruiting participants to work on one of two upcoming productions, A Christmas Carol and the following unannounced show. During the selection workshop, we will discuss which production works best for you.
Along with an induction session and the Next Steps workshop, you will take part in five shifts during your placement.
Front Line group one: A Christmas Carol
Induction workshop: Tue 17 Nov, 2.30–5.30pm
A Christmas Carol performance: Tue 17 Nov, 7.30–10pm
Five shifts: various dates/times from Wed 18 Nov–Tue 15 Dec
Next Steps workshop: Wed 16 Dec, 2–5pm
Front Line group two: show to be announced*
Induction workshop: Tue 26 Jan, 2.30–5.30pm
Performance: Tue 26 Jan, time TBC
Five shifts: various dates/times from Wed 27 Jan–Tue 23 Feb
Next Steps workshop: Wed 24 Feb, 2–5pm
*These dates are subject to change so we are looking for participants that have good availability Jan–Feb 2027.
Who is this programme for?
Front Line is designed to support people who have little to no work experience take their first steps.
We are committed to identifying and resolving barriers which may ordinarily exclude people from accessing theatre and employment opportunities and will prioritise people who have had limited or no access to arts opportunities in the past. This includes people from the global majority, care-experienced people, carers, disabled people, neurodivergent people, people from working class backgrounds and people from the LGBTQIA+ community.
You must:
- Be aged 16–30
- Not be in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
- Have little to no work experience and would benefit from support in applying for work
- Be based in London or within the surrounding areas — shifts will involve evening work
- Have the right to work in the UK
- Be able to attend the induction and Next Steps workshop for at least one of the shows listed in programme dates
- Have good availability during ‘shift dates’ for at least one of the shows listed in programme dates.
- We are committed to working alongside disabled and neurodivergent people (including those who experience dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent ways of thinking). We can make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the application process and throughout the programme
- Course content and resources can be adapted to suit your learning style
- We can bring in additional staff support if you would require this
- Shifts take place at The Old Vic where it is possible to undertake work with step-free access
- We can provide travel support if needed.
If you would like to talk to us about your access requirements prior to applying or at any point during the process, please contact us via email at frontline@oldvictheatre.com
Applications for Front Line are currently closed. To be the first to find out when applications open, please complete an expression of interest form
If you have any questions about the programme, would like to discuss your access needs or need any help completing your application, please email frontline@oldvictheatre.com and we will be in touch.
Thank you, thank you and thank you. This was exactly what I needed at this point in my life, and it has given me all the tools to move forward.